Car-finder.



No. 687,507. 'Patented'nom 26, |901.

M. H.'VAN DINTER.

CAR FENDER. (Applicata-ion led May 27, 1901.)

(No lllndel.)4

UNITED dSTATES "PATENT OFFICE.

MATHEW H. VAN DINTER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO GEORGE W. KALTZ, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,507, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed May 27, 1901.

To all whom t 17m/.y concern,.-

Be it known that I, MATHEW H. VAN DIN- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar Fenders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has reference to an improved type of fender particularly designed for streetrailway ears; and it consists in the peculiar construction of the fender and in the novel arrangement and combination of its various parts, as will be more fully set forth, and shown in the drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of a car with my improved fender applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the fender and its parts, and Fig. 3 is a plan View.

In the drawings thus briefi y referred to the reference-letter A designates a car of any approved construction, and B the truck-frame therefor. j

C is an extended framework which is hinged to the front end of the truck-frame, and D designates the fender, mounted upon the forward portion of the framework for vertical rocking movement.

The truck-frame at its forward end is provided with uprights E, and the extended framework is maintained in operative relation to the track bymeans of a supporting mechanism consisting in this case of supporting-rods F, which connect the framework to the uprights. The rods, as shown, are pivoted to the forward portion of the framework, and their free ends have a sliding engagement with the uprights, the rods extending through said uprights and being provided at their ends with stop members G. These members are preferably nuts threaded upon the rod ends, which limit the downward movement of the frame. By this manner of connecting the extended framework with the truck-frame the framework may be adjusted vertically relative to they track for the purpose of moving the fender in proximity to or away from the rails, as may be desired. Also the sliding engagement which the rods have with the uprights permits the fender to be maintained normally in close proximity to the track even where the' route of the car is over steep in- Serial No. 62,057. (No model.)

clines, as the yielding connection allows the extended frame to assume the necessary angular relation to the truck-frame as the car is about to ascend an incline or when the car is passing from the incline to the level ground. At these periods the fender is adapted to rest upon the track, and I have provided suitable rollers a2 upon opposite sides of the fender, which are adapted to travel upon the rails.

The fender (designated by the referenceletter D) comprises a framework having a lateral projecting portion H and an upright or vertical projecting portion I, the side members J being substantially L-shaped in configuration, as indicated in the drawings. The fender-frame, as shown, is pivoted to the extended framework by means of a bar or rod K, which extends through the side members of the fender-frame and the forward portion of the extended framework. A spring-actuated buffer-barL forms the front edge of the fender and has a sliding engagement with the fender sides, as shown, the buer-bar being provided with extensions a at its sides or ends, which slide within slots b, formed in the side members. provided with rearwardly-projecting members c and d, each ot' which is slotted to receive the pivot-bar K. The end portions of the rearwardly-projecting members extend to the rear of the pivot-bar and are pivoted to a connecting-bar M, extending from the fender to and through the forward cross-bar e of the truck-frame. j

f designates a coil-spring interposed between a shoulderg, formed upon the connecti ing-bar, and the plate 77which bears normally against the cross-bar e. The tension of this spring is varied by means of set-screws z', which project through the cross-bar e and bear against the plate h.

It. will thus be seen from the description of the buer-bar that a yielding front edge is provided for the fender, which when striking au object or person not only lessens the jar The bar described is further in cases where obstacles, such as a stone, is

struck, but breaks the force of the fall of a person caught upon the fender.

I have also provided means whereby the fender is normally held in a forwardly-tilted position with its front edge in close proximity to the track and have provided further means for releasing the fender from this position when a person yis caught thereon, so that the persony will be raised upwardly, and thus prevented from being thrown between the fender and the rails.

To maintain the fender in its forwardlytilted position, I provide a trip mechanism consistng of a trip proper, O, secured at one end to a trip-barPand adapted to rest normally at its opposite end upon supports Q upon a crossbar R, forming a part of the extended framework. Rods S extendrfrom the fenderframe on opposite sides of the trip and beneath a stop T, adj ustably secured to the upright rod or standard U, arranged between the supports Q. These rods limit the downward tilting movement of the fender after the trip is set.

V designates a trip-frame pivoted between the upright portions of the side members of the fender, in which the end portions of the trip-bar are journaled. At its upper-"end the tri p-frame is provided with extensions j, which extend within slots k, formed in the ends of the upright portions of the fender frame. These extensions limit the swinging movement of the trip-frame. anism being set, as shown in Fig. 2, when a person is struck bythe fender and thrown upon the latter the tripping-frame is forced rearwardly, thereby releasing the trip, drawing the same from off its seat, and allowing the rearward portion of the fender to drop, causing the person to be raised upwardly from the tracks. The trip mechanism is reset by means of a cable W, which is attached to the forward portion of the trip, the free end of the cable being arranged in convenient position to the operator. shown) is preferably arranged over the fenderframe, and the upper portion of the trippingframe is preferably padded, as at V.

It will be observed in the construction of the fender that in cases where small objects, such as stones, &c., are struck the fender will not be thrown from its forward tilted position, the rearward rocking movement of the fender only taking place when the obstacle is of such size as to strike the tripping-frame. It will also be obvious that the extent of the rocking movement of the fender is limited or controlled by means of the stop member TL What I claim as my invention is- I. In a car, the combination with the truckframe, of ahoriZontally-extending framework pivoted at its rear end to the truck-frame and held against downward movement below its horizontal plane, means for vertically adj nsting the framework about its pivot, and a fender supported entirely upon the hinged framework at its forward end and pivoted to the latter for rocking movement.

2. In a car, the combination with the truckd frame provided with uprights at its forward end, of an extended framework hinged to said truck-frame, supporting members extending from the framework to and having a sliding engagement with the uprights, and a fender carried by the framework.

The tripping mech-l 3. In a car, the combination with the truck'- frame provided with uprights at its forward end, of an extended framework hinged to said truck-frame, supporting-rods extending from the framework to and having a sliding engagement with the uprights, stop members adj ustably secured upon the rod ends for limiting the downward movement of the framework, and a fender carried by said framework.

4. In a car, the combination with the trucki frame, a framework connected to the truckframe and carrying a fender, a buffer-box forming the outer front edge of the fender and having a sliding engagement with the fender sides, a connecting member extending from the buer-box to the truck-frame,and a spring acting upon said connecting member to normally maintain the buffer in its extreme outer position. j 4 5. In a car, the combination with the truckframe, of a longitudinally-extending framework hinged thereto, a fender mounted upon the framework for rocking movement, a buffer-box slidingly engaging the fender and forming the outer front edge thereof, a connecting member extending from the bufferbox to the truck-frame, and a spring intermediate the frame and connecting member serving to normally maintain the buffer in its extreme outer position.

6. In a car, the combination with a truckframe, of a supporting-framework connected thereto, a fender supported upon the framework comprising a vertical section and afor wardly-projecting horizontal section, a p1v A suitable wire-netting (not otal connection between said forwardly-projecting section of the fender and the framework, a trip normally holding the fender in a forwardly-tilted position, and means upon the fender for automatically releasing the trip.

7. In a ear, the combination with the truck frame, of a supporting-framework connected thereto, an angle-shaped fender having a laterally-projecting section pivoted tothe outer' end of the framework, a trip acting normally to maintain the fender in a forwardly-tilted position, and a tripping-frame, pivoted to the y l vertical section of the fender, controlling th-e operation of the trip.

8. In a car, the combination with the truck-V frame, of a supporting-framework connected thereto, an angle-shaped fender comprising vertical andl lateral sections, the latter being pivoted to the framework, a trip acting to maintain the fender in a forwardly-tilted position, a tripping-frame pivoted centrally to IOO the vertical section and controlling the operation of the trip, and means for resetting the trip from the car after operation. p

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATHEW H. VAN DINTER.- Witnesses:

L. J. WmtrcrnMORE,y H. C. SMITH. 

